MORE than 2,000 people have signed a petition against a multiplex cinema being built in Pool.

The Save Our Cinema campaign was started by Geoff Greaves, owner of Merlin Cinemas, which runs the Redruth Regal cinema.

Mr Greaves fears the proposed Cineworld cinema would destroy his business and force footfall from the centre of Redruth into an out-of-town complex.

Redruth Town Council has backed the petition.

The development, proposed by Salmon Harvester Properties Ltd, would also include an Asda supermarket and four restaurants.

The company has yet to submit a formal planning application to Cornwall Council, but Mr Greaves said he was trying to drum up opposition before it is too late.

He told the West Briton: “We are getting tremendous support once people realise the knock-on effects of this proposal and Save Our Cinemas Posters are now being displayed by many town centre retailers.

“If the cinemas were to close it would likely have a serious detrimental effect on footfall and especially the night-time economy in several towns.

“We generate 500,000 cinema visits in towns we operate in and additionally attract many holiday visitors, especially on wet days, paying for parking, shopping and often eating locally before or after a film. Without a cinema many of these people, like the local cinemagoers, would have to drive to Pool to see a film.”

Mr Greaves said he had been bombarded with support from local people and promised to not let the Cineworld complex be built “without a fight”.

Management at Merlin Cinemas hope to gain the support of other local councils over the coming weeks as they present the case to more councillors.

Penwith Film Society members who use the Royal St Ives and the Savoy Penzance, the oldest continuous cinema in the country – 101 years old – and also run by Merlin Cinemas, gathered signatures for the petition in Penzance last weekend.

It is understood a planning application will be submitted before the end of this month for the Pool development proposal. Funds from the selling of the land to Salmon Harvester Properties Ltd will be used for a comprehensive refurbishment of the Carn Brea Leisure Centre.

10 comments

I think a multiplex can only be a good thing.
for Redruth cinema - do what cinemas such as the Electric Cinema in Notting Hill have done. Diversify slightly. I know they've got screen 7 that you can have a drink/food in - but do this throughout. Give the people something different, and they'll stay....

I believe that the petition which, needs to reach 5,000 signatures, is in order to force a full debate in the Cornwall Council chamber, so that the proposal and objections get a fair hearing.
I think many local people realise the damage the loss of the high street cinemas would further do to town centre retail and catering establishments. Multiplexes kill nearby smaller cinemas because they pull just enough business from each for them to no longer be viable after which another local amenity is lost to many towns.

If its more choice people want then why not build a bowling alley or ice skating rink. Something new and different that Cornwall doesn't already have. Your money will be leaving Cornwall if it is spent at a big company like Cineworld. Why are so many people against supporting your locals. Im sure the company could 'deal with it' but only by cutting down and closing smaller, much needed cinemas! And once all the local cinemas are gone then you will be left with this one massive giant who will have a lot of power over its own prices and wont really care how much it charges you. Cineworld has been known to this before. Perhaps the people of Pool and the local area should be asking why the council spent millions of pounds of taxpayers money on Heartlands recently and now feel bad because of what a failure it was and want to risk the livelihoods of so many people in Cornwall in a last ditch attempt to make things right!?

I would still carry on using the Regal Redruth even if a new Multiplex opened up.
I have a Merlin Cinema card and have used Redruth and Falmouth on many occasions.
The Multiplex would give us more choice and create a new entertainment area for Camborne and Pool.
Hopefully a decent dining establishment would be included in the build to give the project a polished finish.
I use Redruth for the cinema only as there is absolutely no other reason for me to visit the area.
The cinema has done fantastically with the improvements but the cafe /bar attached is extremely down market and the constant smell of "Chips" is a real put off.
I would not eat there.
The management of The Regal need to accept healthy competition and embrace the challenge ( if indeed there is one" or move on to an area where they will be " The Only Cinema In The Village"
A petition is everyone's right but so many of these petitions in Cornwall are born from fear Upcountry takeovers ( lol) and the bringing of Cornwall into the 21st century.
I would definitely not go back to The Regal should a Multiplex be blocked because of the petition and would take my business to Truro or Falmouth.
Thanks

If you read the article "martian 1956" it's not a petition against progress or improvement it's to stop it being built so that the other cinema's don't suffer & close down. A multiplex would pull the business from the local cinema's & from the town's which are already suffering so meaning someone would have to go, wouldn't you rather it not go ahead then to see these places close down & be empty....think of all the people that would once again be pulled away from the town centre's. Creating jobs, yes but then having a knock on effect if one of the local cinemas close down & people would lose their jobs at their which seems to happened up & down the UK when a multiplex has opened close by them. Merlin is all up for improvement & progress otherwise why would they have renovated the Regal & renovated the drill hall in Falmouth & continue to update the others. Surely merlin & wtw give cornwall what they want in the ways of cinema, on release films, event cinema, live stage events, autism friendly screenings, childrens parties, movie magic card, great staff....we really do not need a multi plex... if this goes ahead it could see the end of the local cinema...

A petition against progress and improvement giving folk a wider choice of what they can do and where they can do it is just sad.
If the Merlin cinema group cannot cope with competition then they should accept the consequences.
There will be no cinema closures just more people getting a closer cinema and access to a fun night out nearer home.
Live with it.

A multiples cinema is not needed. When we travel up to Redruth, the Regal cinema has plenty of licensed screens and a restaurant.
I have relatives in Truro, Cornwall. Just emailing them to tell them there's one up in England as well! Perhaps the two could twin or something?

oh for goodness sake!! Cornwall is crying out for a multiplex cinema. I hope it doesn't damage this mans business but really this is just daft. He could create a niche market for himself showing old classics, having sing a long evenings, Saturday morning cinema, pensioner classic afternoons. this is what business is about. you try and beat the competition.

It's called business and an open market, it's freedom of choice for people to use new bigger facilities. So many nimbies in Cornwall don't like change and moving with the times, it will create jobs and there's plenty of unemployed in that area.